Biodegradable pour point depressants for industrial fluids derived from biodegradable base oils

Abstract

The invention involves the use of biodegradable polyalpha olefins ("PAOs") to treat biodegradable industrial fluids, such as lubricants, hydraulic fluids, fuel oils, and the like, to: (a) reduce their pour point; (b) improve their oxidation stability performance; and/or, (c) improve their hydrolytic stability performance. A preferred industrial fluid is mixture of vegetable oil and branched alkane where the average molecular weight of the alkane is about 200-400, and the alkane additionally has a sufficient degree of branching to have a pour point of about -25° C. or lower.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for depressing the pour point of an industrial fluid comprising at least one triglyceride, said method comprising the step of adding to said industrial fluid a pour point depressant consisting essentially of one or more biodegradable polyalpha olefins comprising branched alkenes with an average molecular weight and a sufficient degree of branching to reduce the pour point of said industrial fluid to about -25° C. or lower, wherein said alkenes comprise unhydrogenated oligomerization products of 1-alkenes having between about 6 to 20 carbon atoms.